A mother-of-seven who welcomed triplets aged 50 has revealed she is a 'better' parent in midlife - and encourages more women to embrace having children later in life.
Marie Gustavsson gave birth to her triplets - Charlie, Lorinne and Lara – in June 2025 following IVF treatment abroad, which came to a total cost of £4,750.
Despite already having four sons and being told she had less than a five per cent chance of conceiving due to her age, Marie and her husband were determined to try for another child.
Now, while Marie admits that raising seven children in midlife comes with numerous challenges and 'sleepless nights', she still has no regrets about becoming a mother again.
Marie, a nurse from Gothenburg, Sweden, also praised A-listers, such as Hilary Swank, for speaking openly about their decision to have children later in life.
The 52-year-old Oscar winner, who welcomed twins at the age of 48 in 2023, recently announced she is expecting her third child with husband Philip Schneider.
'Hilary's announcement definitely helps challenge stereotypes about women who become mums later in life,' Marie said.
'It's absolutely wonderful to see. As an older mum, you're calmer, more mature and you really understand what it's all about.
A mother-of-seven who welcomed triplets aged 50 has revealed she is a 'better' parent in midlife - and encourages other women to embrace having children later in life
Marie Gustavsson gave birth to her triplets - Charlie, Lorinne and Lara – in June 2025 following IVF treatment abroad, which came to a total cost of £4,750
Marie also praised A-listers, such as Hilary Swank (pictured), for speaking openly about their decision to have children later in life. The 52-year-old Oscar winner recently announced she is expecting her third child
'When I first read the news, my first thought was that it's wonderful, as that's certainly not a given at that age.'
Marie and her husband forked out £4,750 (€5,500) to have the treatment in Cyprus. Miraculously, she tested positive on a pregnancy test just three days after the transfer.
When she initially discovered she was pregnant, Marie said she was 'afraid how I'd make it and how we would cope'.
She added: 'We didn't tell anyone it was three babies, because we didn't know if all of them would make it.
'It was shocking for everyone. Some people were disappointed but most of our family and friends were happy for us.'
The babies were delivered by emergency caesarean section - with Charlie weighing 1.5kg, while Lorinne was 1.3kg and Lara weighed just 1kg.
Now, Marie revealed that motherhood is going brilliantly – although sleepless nights and finding enough time for her four older children have been among the biggest challenges.
She explained that with the help of a nanny, Marie and her husband are able to 'take it in turns throughout the night'.
'Being a mum at my age is going really well. Though you do get tons of questions from all sorts of people,' she said.
'Society is too quick to judge women who choose to have children in their fifties but it's narrow-minded people who pass judgment.
'I haven't had criticism directly to my face but you can tell that some people question it, people who aren't open-minded.
'Thankfully, there aren't many of them. The vast majority just think it's wonderful and exciting, a true blessing and they're simply curious. I'm happy to share, offer tips, and give advice.'
Despite already having four sons and being told she had less than a five per cent chance of conceiving due to her age, Marie (pictured while pregnant) and her husband were determined to try for another child
Marie and her husband forked out £4,750 (€5,500) to have the treatment in Cyprus. Miraculously, she tested positive on a pregnancy test just three days after the transfer
Despite being an 'older' mother, Marie has insisted that becoming a parent in midlife comes with its perks and that her children 'keep me younger'. She said: You're not too old if you have the energy for it'
Despite being an 'older' mother, Marie has insisted that becoming a parent in midlife comes with its perks and that her children 'keep me younger'.
She said: 'Being a mum again at 50 isn't a problem. It's better than when I was 19 and didn't know how to take care of babies.
'I've always tried to live healthy and take care of myself, and that helps me to take care of my babies.
'My babies keep me younger in body and soul. I'm not worried about not being around for as long as I'm around for my oldest.
'You're mature and calm, you have a stable life, and you understand what it's all about and how to handle it.'
Now, more than a year on, Marie's triplets are thriving - and all have 'completely different personalities'.
'Lara is independent and strong-willed; she's active and lively,' Marie explained.
'Lorinne is sensitive and very social, she talks a lot and loves music. Charlie is a tough little guy; he's fearless and follows his own path.
'They've started walking and head off in all different directions. They feed themselves, talk a lot and are developing exactly as they should.'
She advised other women considering motherhood at a later age to not get wrapped up in the challenges. Instead, they should focus on staying healthy and enjoying the privilege of watching their children grow up.
She said: 'I do what I can to maintain my health. I lead a very healthy life and have always had a healthy lifestyle.
'I hope I will stay healthy for many years and see my kids grow up, but it doesn't worry me that I'll be in my sixties when the children are teenagers. I don't think about it.
'There are no guarantees that young people will live longer and anything could happen, so why worry?
'Being a mum at this age is a fantastic gift. The best gift one could ever receive. You're not too old if you have the energy for it.'